What Does It Mean When a Garage Door is Off Track?
A garage door is designed to run smoothly along a set of tracks on either side. These tracks guide the door up and down as it opens and closes. When the door is “off track,” one or more rollers have come out of alignment, causing the door to malfunction. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including physical impact (e.g., a vehicle hitting the door), worn-out parts, or improper maintenance.
Dangers of Operating a Garage Door That’s Off Track
- Risk of Door Collapse When a garage door comes off its tracks, it can become unstable and fall. Considering that garage doors can weigh anywhere from 150 to 400 pounds, a falling door poses a significant safety risk. Whether it’s people, pets, or vehicles underneath, the damage or injury caused by a collapsing door can be severe.
- Compromised Safety Mechanisms Modern garage doors are equipped with safety mechanisms like sensors and auto-reverse functions. However, when the door is off track, these safety features may not work properly, increasing the risk of accidents or entrapment.
- Increased Pressure on Other Components When the door isn’t aligned correctly, the garage door opener and other components (like cables and springs) are forced to work harder to operate the door. This increased strain can cause critical parts to snap or break, leading to more expensive repairs and potential injury if they break while in use.
Potential Damage to the Garage Door and Surrounding Area
- Bent or Damaged Tracks Continuing to operate a door that’s off track will likely bend or warp the tracks, making it much harder to repair. In many cases, damaged tracks must be replaced, which can be more costly than an initial repair.
- Damage to the Door Panels The misalignment can cause parts of the door to scrape or collide with the tracks or garage frame, leading to dents, cracks, or broken panels. These damages often require complete panel replacement.
- Damage to the Garage Opener Trying to force an off-track door open or closed using the garage door opener can burn out the motor. This can necessitate a complete replacement of the opener, which is far more expensive than repairing an off-track door early on.
Why a Professional is Required for an Off-Track Garage Door
- Specialized Tools and Equipment Re-aligning a garage door that’s off track isn’t a simple DIY job. Professionals have specialized tools like winding bars, track benders, and alignment tools to safely and efficiently get the door back on track.
- Knowledge of Tension Systems Garage doors operate under high tension, particularly the springs and cables that lift the door. A professional understands how to safely release and reset this tension, avoiding accidents that can happen when attempting to repair it without proper knowledge.
- Experience in Diagnosing Underlying Issues A professional technician can quickly assess why the door came off track in the first place. Whether it’s wear and tear on the rollers, an issue with the garage opener, or structural damage to the tracks, a trained expert can identify the root cause and provide a long-term solution, saving you from future headaches.
Why Delaying Repairs Makes Things Worse
- Increased Repair Costs The longer an off-track garage door is left unchecked, the more damage accumulates. A minor issue like a misaligned roller can quickly lead to bent tracks, snapped cables, or a burned-out opener. Each of these repairs individually can add up, making the total cost of delay much higher.
- Heightened Safety Risks If the door falls or other components break under the increased strain, anyone near the door at the time is at serious risk of injury. Fixing the problem promptly with professional help eliminates these risks.
- Vehicle and Property Damage A falling door or one that jams while opening or closing can damage not just the garage door but also any vehicles or property in its path. A professional can prevent these expensive mishaps by addressing the problem early on.
What to Do If Your Garage Door is Off Track
- Don’t Force It Never attempt to open or close a door that’s come off its tracks. Forcing it can cause additional damage to the tracks, rollers, and cables.
- Disconnect the Opener Disconnect the garage door opener to avoid accidental activation and further damage.
- Call a Professional Immediately Reach out to a professional garage door repair service as soon as you notice the problem. Technicians can inspect and repair the issue, ensuring the door is back in safe working order quickly.
Schedule Professional Off-Track Garage Door Repair with OnTrac
At OnTrac, our expert technicians are trained to handle all kinds of garage door problems, including off-track doors. We provide fast, reliable service to get your door back in operation safely. Don’t wait—contact us today for a professional inspection and repair.